Variable pitch propeller



May 14, 1940. s. A. FARRELL VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLER Filed May 28. 1938 WIT'N ESSE .Puentes UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.A I vaamnm :ocnoranma l l Stephen A. Farrell, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 28, 1938', Serial No. 210,644 2 Chim. (ci. v1mi-173) This invention relates to improvements in a variable pitch propeller useful with marine and other craft for the purpose of obtaining variable direction and reverse t.

An object of the invention is the provision of improved means for s wivelly connecting the blades of a propeller with the hub in a practicalmanner so that the blades may be feathered or turned on their own axes to angularly adiust the l0 blades for the purpose of varying the pitch thereof to obtain the desired direct or reverse thrust while the propeller is in operation.

- The propeller to which the invention is applied includes a hub designed -to accommodate within the same means operable to causethe adiustment of the blades simultaneously for the stated purposes. Therefore, it is another object of the inventor to provide a fluid-tight joint betweencertain of the parts to exclude undesirable matter from Ithe interior of the hub to thereby prevent fouling of lubricant used and also to insure proper operation and desired movements of the parts, and also to provide a .practical and j durable water-tight joint for each vblade of a variable pitch propeller enabling adjustments and therefore eectual operation of the propeller in propelling marine craft. l

The natureof the invention and its :listinguishing features and advantages will appear I when the following specification is read in con- -Junction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view illustrat- 1 I., the features or the invention;

2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2=2 of ig'.

Fig. 3 is a section of the base or root end o one oi the blades; and 4@ Fig. i is a perspective view of the two-part retaining ring used for swivelling a blade.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be apparent that the propeller includes a hub It and blades il of which there are three in the present instance. The' hub @Ii hosthree bores or holes i3 extending radially therein and spaced equi-distantly, and also has an axial bore Mi ex tending therethrough which communicates with the bores IB. Each of the bores I8 provides a 5e cross-sectionally round socket for one of the blades I i, and also provides a circular shoulder IB. The outer portion of each bore it is tapped to provide screw I6. 'f

The base or root end il of each blade II is ,55 cross-sectionally round to loosely and turnably iltl "groove 20 and is thick enough to project some- The gasket 26 is placed around the root end il in 30 collar 23 is screwed home with its threads 24 4in der I5. The set screw 30 is then engaged in the 4g in its socket formed in the hub I0. The end I1, a suitable distance from its inner extremity has a circular groove I8 therein. In spaced relation to -the groove' I8 the blade has a flange I9 which is undercut to provide a groove 20. The end I1 5 has secured thereto in any practical manner a bevel gear 2|. In the present instance said end I1 is recessed to accommodate the gear 2l and the latter is secured by welding the same to said end I1, as at 22. l@ In order to'swivelly connecteach blade II with the hub llithere is provided acollar 23 having screw threads 24 complemental to the threads I6, and there is also provided a retaining ring of two parts or members 25 complemental to the groove 15 I8. The collar 23 is designed to be removably and adiustably attached to the, hub I0. To provide a huid-tight joint in conjunction with the ange I9 use is made of a gasket 26 of suitable material such as leather. The gasket 26 lits in the 20 what beyond the iiange I9 to be received in a circular groove 21 in the collar 23. The collar 23 has holes 28 therein to accommodate a spanner .wrench and also has a hole 29 for a set screw 26 or the like 3U carried by the hub III.

In swivelly connecting each blade II' with the hub I0 and to form the fluid-tight joint aforesaid,an assembly of parts is madey as follows.

the groove 28. Next, the collar 23 is slipped on said end il, the latter having a turning fit in said collar. The retaining members 25 are then placed about said end I1 disposed in the groove it, which produces a huid-tight contact between the 3b gasket 2e and the ange it, and between the gasket and the collar 23, said gasket projecting into the groove 2l. The root end il of the blade with the parts assembled as described is entered into one of the hub sockets i3, and by the use of a suitable spanner engaged in the holes 28, the

engagement with the threads IS of the hub. This brings the members 26 in contact with the shoulhole 29 to prevent the collar 23 from turning with respect tothe hub while permitting the blade t'o be turned or swivelled with respect to the hub it. In this manner the three blades II are swivelly connectedwith the hub I0 for angular 5o adjustment on their own axes.

, In accordance with the invention the means for making the uid-tiglitjoint in conjunction with each blade is carried by said blade. In other words, when gasket or packing 26, collar .58'

23 and retaining ring 25 are assembled on the root end I1, they become integral with the blade. Theblade then may be screwed into the 4hub I0 as if the root I1 itself were threaded. This packing is practical and durable requiring no extra joint and can be set in place under perfect pressure.

'I'he hub I 0 is secured fast to a hollow shaft 3| which constitutes part of a means for driving or rotatingl the propeller. In the present instance the shaft 3| has a collar 32 Welded thereto and said shaft is also in threading engagement with 39 in the form of a screw driven in the sleeve.

limits the axial movement of the shaft 35 into the hub. A cap 4I is secured as at 42 to the hub and encloses the sleeve 31 and its abutment 39.

The bores I3 and I4 afford space for grease for the gears l2| land 36. Oil fills the space afforded within the cap 4I. 'I'he oil finds its Way through a duct 43 in the hub about the root end |'I of each blade. In this manner the moving parts are well lubricated. The fluid-tight joint formed between each blade I and the hub IIJ through the intervention of the gasket 26 and collar 23 excludes undesirable matter from the interior of the hub and thus insures proper operation and desired movements of the parts.

While the shaft 3| is driving the propeller the A fianged sleeve` shaft 35 may be turned to operate the gears 36 and 2| to cause the desired angular adjustment of the blades II for the purpose of obtaining variable direct and reversethrust.

I claim: f

1. A variable pitch propeller including a hub having radial cylindrical sockets therein, a blade for each of said sockets, each blade having a cylindrical root end which loosely ts in its socket, said hub embodying a circular shoulder in the socket for each blade and the latter having a circular groove therein, semi-circular retainers complemental to said shoulder and groove, the retainers being in contact with the shoulder and extending into said groove, a collar for each blade which loosely fits on the root end of the blade,

said collar being secured to the hub and being in contact with the related retainers, the provision and arrangement being such that the blades are swivelly connected with the hub lior angular ad'- justment to vary the pitch thereof to impart the desired thrust. and means interposed between the collar and the root end of each blade in contact therewith to make a fluid-tight joint.

2. A variable pitch propeller including a hub,

blades, each blade having a cylindrical root end and swlvelly tting in a. socketl in the hub, a ange on said root end, a ring of packing'surrounding the root end of each blade in contact with said iiange, av collar surrounding said root end and removably and adjustably attached to saidhub, said root end having an annular groove therein, retainers adapted to hold the collar under pressure in contact with said ring, when the retainers are in position in said groove, thereby making an inside fluid-tight joint.

STEPHEN A. FARREIL. 

